They entered the NBA in the same year and then changed the way basketball is played and how the league is viewed.

Fueled by talent, joy and competitive drive, they won championship and MVPs and brought new-found excitement to the league.

For all their accomplishments and significance, Basketball Hall of Famers and NBA icons Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are this year’s recipients of the NBA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. They will be honored June 24 at the NBA awards show in Santa Monica, California.

Larry Bird, left, and Magic Johnson created a drama that endures to this day, even if the style of play doesn't hold up.(Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein, NBAE/Getty)

First rivals in college (Johnson at Michigan State, Bird at Indiana State) and then the NBA (Johnson with the Los Angeles Lakers and Bird with the Boston Celtics), Johnson and Bird came into the league in 1979-80, and while Bird won Rookie of the Year, Johnson helped the Lakers to the NBA title.

Bird won a title the next season, and Magic’s Lakers finally met Bird’s Celtics in the Finals in 1984 with the Celtics winning. The Lakers beat Boston for the title in 1985 and 1987.

Both won gold medals for Team USA at the 1992 Summer Olympics playing for the Dream Team, the first U.S. Olympic team comprised mainly of professionals.

Johnson finished with five championships, Bird with three. Johnson was three-time Finals MVP and three-time regular-season MVP, and Bird was named NBA Finals MVP twice and won the regular-season MVP award three times – all in consecutive seasons (1984, 1985, 1986).

Bird is the only person in NBA history to win MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year.

Johnson, who retired in 1991 when he learned he was HIV positive and made a brief comeback in 1995, became a successful businessman following his playing career. He recently resigned as the Lakers' president of basketball operations.

May 21: Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry shoots the ball as Milwaukee Bucks guard George Hill and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo defend during the first half of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY Sports

May 14: The Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry is defended by the Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard (0) and Seth Curry (31) during the second quarter in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals at Oracle Arena. The Warriors won the game, 116-94. Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports

May 12: Kawhi Leonard celebrates after hitting winning shot at the buzzer to lift the Raptors over the Sixers in Game 7 and send Toronto to the Eastern Conference finals. John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY Sports

May 8: The Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson shoots the basketball against Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers during the fourth quarter of Game 5 at Oracle Arena. The Warriors won the game, 104-99, to take a 3-2 series lead. Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports

April 28: Warriors guard Steph Curry (30) helps out the ref and points to the spot where Rockets guard James Harden (13) stepped out of bounds and turned the ball over during Game 1 Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports

April 26: The Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant blocks the shot from the LA Clippers' Danilo Gallinari at the net during Game 6 at Staples Center. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 129-110 to win the series 4-2. Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

April 13: Delaware Blue Coats ambassador of basketball Joe Richmond juggles balls in front of a giant inflatable of Ben Franklin before Game 1 of the first-round series between the 76ers and the Nets. Bill Streicher, USA TODAY Sports